外國人最想和你聊的時(shí)事話題：禮尚往來

     Naturally, there should be mutual concession and there should be reciprocity.
     自然，雙方都要作些讓步，并且要禮尚往來。
     Mere friendly politeness required that he should call to see Dorothea about the cottages.
     單單從禮尚往來說，他也應(yīng)該為村舍的事找一下多蘿西婭。
     As for Michaelis, he was perfect, exactly the same melancholic, attentive, aloof young fellow of the previous evening, millions of degrees remote from his hosts, but laconically playing up to them to the required amount, and never coming forth to them for a moment.
     至于蔑克里斯呢，他毫不露出破綻，完全和昨天晚上一樣，憂郁，專心而又冷漠，和主人主婦像遠(yuǎn)隔得幾百萬里路似的，只和他們禮尚往來著，卻不愿自獻(xiàn)殷勤。
     We gave the Smiths a bottle of gin last Christmas, so this year they gave us a bottle of Scotch to even things up a bit.
     去年圣誕節(jié)我們送給史密斯家一瓶杜松子酒，今年他們禮尚往來，給我們送了一瓶蘇格蘭威士忌酒。
     Courtesy on one side only lasts not long.
     單方面的禮貌不會(huì)持久。
     Their frequent invitation places us under an obligation to invite them to our house for a change.
     他們經(jīng)常邀請(qǐng)我們，我們只好禮尚往來邀請(qǐng)他們到我們家。
     Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice versa.
     禮尚往來。往而不來，非禮也；來而不往，亦非禮也。
     The exchange of gifts is a traditional Chinese thought, which is carried on till now.
     禮尚往來是中國的一種傳統(tǒng)思想，這種思想一直沿襲至今。
     The traditional meaning of exchanging of gifts has changed in modern society.
     禮尚往來的意思在現(xiàn)代已經(jīng)發(fā)生了變化。
     Mary refused to tell Taylor the reason, as the Chinese saying goes, Taylor won't tell Mary the way to settle down the issue.
     瑪麗不告訴泰勒事情的原因，禮尚往來，泰勒也不會(huì)告訴瑪麗解決問題的方法。
     During holidays, we always receive lots of blessing short messages from our friends, and we'll reply these messages in return.
     過節(jié)的時(shí)候經(jīng)常會(huì)受到很多朋友的祝福短信，禮尚往來我們也會(huì)回復(fù)他們。
     Many foreigners regard the Chinese traditional culture of exchanging of gifts as strange behavior.
     很多外國朋友認(rèn)為中國禮尚往來的習(xí)俗很奇怪。
     In Chinese point of view, exchange of gifts show the mutual respect and adoration among people.
     在中國人看來，禮尚往來表現(xiàn)了人們之間的相互尊重和喜愛。
Part 3　Let's Talk！　開始交流吧！
     Collins: This is the first time I've been in China, and everything here fascinated me. But there is something I can never figure out!
     科林斯：這是我第一次來中國，這里的許多事情都令我非常著迷。但是有些事我搞不明白。
     Wang Yang: What's wrong? Did anything puzzle you, speak it up and see if I can help you out.
     王洋：怎么了？有什么讓你感到困惑，說出來看看我能不能幫你。
     Collins: Good! You turn up so timely! I am just expecting some good explanation. You know the other day one of my Chinese friends was celebrating his birthday so I asked him what he would like for a birthday present. Do you know what he said? "No, no! Don't give me anything. Don't be polite!" can you believe it?
     科林斯：太好了！你的出現(xiàn)太及時(shí)了！我正想尋找一些好的解釋呢。有一天我的中國朋友慶祝他的生日，所以我就問他喜歡什么樣的生日禮物。你知道他說什么嗎？"不不，不要給我買任何東西，不要那么客氣！"你相信嗎？
     Wang Yang: Actually, I can well believe it. It's a Chinese way of expressing his being humble and reserved. But most often the speaker doesn't really mean refusal unless he firmly insists. Chinese people don't easily accept the given things only when he has contributed to the giver or there is an intimacy. And they don't want their friends "pofei" which means to spend money. Or maybe he refuses you just because he doesn't want to buy your gift in return.
     王洋：說實(shí)話我相信。這是中國人表達(dá)謙遜和保守的方式。但是大部分人并不是真的拒絕，除非強(qiáng)烈地堅(jiān)持。中國人通常不會(huì)輕易接受別人給予的東西，除非他為送禮的人做過事情或者關(guān)系十分親密。他們不希望他們的朋友"破費(fèi)"，意思是花錢。又或者他們拒絕你僅僅是因?yàn)椴幌攵Y尚往來。
     Collins: What did he mean by refusing to accept a present from me then?
     科林斯：你說的拒絕接受我的禮物是什么意思？
     Wang Yang: I don't think he was actually refusing to accept a present from you. It was just his way of being "polite". He didn't mean to be rude and certainly he didn't mean to offend you.
     王洋：我認(rèn)為他不是真的拒絕接受你的禮物。只是表示禮貌的一種方式。他并不是無禮更不會(huì)有意冒犯你。
     Collins: Well, how do you like that? And what was I supposed to do or say in such a situation?
     科林斯：那么，你怎么認(rèn)為呢？你覺得在這種情況下我應(yīng)該怎么說或怎么做呢？
     Wang Yang: In such a situation I suggest you just insist, and if your friend is an elderly gentleman, you probably have to insist several times, but even then I doubt if he will ever give you a direct answer. Or you can buy him a gift directly without asking him. I think he will be satisfied with whatever you buy him.
     王洋：在這種情況下我建議你堅(jiān)持，如果你的朋友年紀(jì)較大，你可能需要堅(jiān)持多次，但即使是這樣或許你也不會(huì)得到明確的答復(fù)?；蛟S你可以直接買個(gè)禮物而不和他說。我認(rèn)為他對(duì)于你買的任何禮物都會(huì)很滿意。
     Collins: So you mean buying a gift is a good choice than not, right?
     科林斯：所以你的意思是只要買了禮物就好，對(duì)嗎？
     Wang Yang: I think so.
     王洋：我是這么認(rèn)為的。
     Collins: But what shall I do if he doesn't like exchange of gift?
     科林斯：但是如果他不想禮尚往來我該怎么辦呢？
     Wang Yang: In that case, you should not send him gift, or it will become a burden for him.
     王洋：如果是這種情況，你就不要送他禮物，否則就會(huì)成為他的負(fù)擔(dān)。
     Collins: I know, thank you.
     科林斯：我知道了，謝謝。